First of all, if you’re reading this at 100 years old, I’d be surprised as hell.
Nobody in my immediate family has even made it to 85. My dad was the longevity champion at 84. Mom died of cancer at 67. Her parents lived to 81 and 84, and my dad’s parents were 63 and 83. So if you’ve somehow hit triple digits, you’ve already broken every family record we have.
Frankly, I’d be thrilled just to be the first one to hit 90. My daughter would probably like that too.
But let’s be clear about something: the only way I’d want to get to 100 is if I’m still in halfway decent shape and my mind still works. If you’re reading this and wondering why someone taped a note to the wall that says “pants first, then shoes,” things may have gone sideways.
Still, if you made it this far, that means you saw things I can’t even imagine yet.
Did Sully grow up well?
Are there great-grandkids running around?
Did Lizzi get the kind of happiness every dad hopes his child finds?
And what about Daryl? I hope the years were kind to both of you. If she’s still around at that point, give her a hug from the younger version of me writing this today. She deserves more hugs than she probably ever got.
Did you finish the books you wanted to write?
That’s one thing I’d really like to know. I hope Tumbleweeds made it into the world. I hope some of the other stories that have been rattling around in my head found their way onto paper too.
And I hope you didn’t stop writing.
Writing has always been one of the ways I make sense of life. If you’re 100 and still putting words together, even if it’s just a paragraph here and there, then you’re doing something right.
One more question.
Did you stay grateful?
Because that’s really the whole point of the journey. Family, faith, stories, laughter, a good glass of bourbon with friends—those are the things that make life rich.
If you still remember that at 100, then you’ve lived well.
But if you’re reading this while complaining about the fit of your diaper, well… congratulations anyway. You made it.
And that’s still pretty impressive.
—Doug, age 59
Copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
